I understand this is sarcasm, but I just have to point out that Microsoft already has a download system for the current XBox and both MS and Sony have included plans for downloading software (with full DRM) directly into their upcoming consoles.
Here's the gameplay. Start will a god-awful cutscene that is way too long. Then get killed by mosquitoes and frogs a few times. No, I'm not kidding, you have to shoot frogs and mosquitoes that are so poorly textured that you'll mistake them for the background. If you miss a frog, it will touch you and you'll explode (Why? No Idea.) Then you take the CD out of your computer, nail it to a wall, and rock back-and-forth with your eyes closed until they stop bleeding.
I don't care that much if somebody under the age of 18 can't buy GTA without their parent's help. This is the part that scares me:
"If the bill were to pass, games put on sale in California would need to be rated and labeled by the state government, not the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)."
Not only do I doubt the ability of the government to judge what is good and bad for our kids, but this is unfair. Movies and music are not rated by the government; why do they think games need to be? And, when Idaho and Alaska pass their own bills, do I have to submit for a rating from them too?
You are right that using your own money is a risk. Hell, if you listen to publishers they'll tell you that 90% of all projects don't make their money back (and 67% of statistics are made up). But, if you're not willing to put your own money where your mouth is, you can't bitch too much when the publisher demands you listen to their "creative input" or they "steal" you IP (Their money == Their project).
I'll take that bet on number 1, but if and only if they are making a film about Master Chef.
I don't see any reason why they wouldn't. They may drop some features (like shields) and change the color so it will stand out more, but it will be Halo like.
Depending on the plot, I don't care if they show his face or not. It is a FPS cliché to keep the face hidden so you can identify more with the main character. If you pay millions of dollars for a famous actor however, you are going to want to show his face.
The main reasons console games are more popular are 1) it is cheaper to buy a state-of-the-art machine that will play all the games your friends are bragging about and, 2) everything just works.
I love my PC games, still the best way to play RTS, FPS, simulations, and funkie titles that will never make it to a console. But, when I just want to "tray-and-play" a game with some friends, it is hard to beat a console.
I understand. I love paintball and it is a very safe sport if you wear the right gear. The problem is, you can't play it in populated areas and the price of ammo adds up quickly.
The problem with laser-tag is that few people have taken it beyond the "kid" image. I'd love to see something like airsoft, but with laser-tag equipment.
Depending on how cool this hack is (I haven't used it, but I'm interested in programming for my PSP) it may stop me from buying any software that includes a firmware upgrade.
Good point. I don't really know how much the "Big Stores" get the product for but, even if everybody got the same deal, the only way to make a living selling something for almost no mark-up is to sell a lot of it. At $5 a pop, you'll have to be able to move 100 units a month just to keep the lights on.
I've had friends who ran a small little shop selling...well, lets just say smoking supplies.;) They didn't move a lot of products, maybe a dozen or so things a day, but their mark-up was unreal (100-400%)! They managed to do just fine (and, no, they didn't sell anything on the side;)).
He's talking as if you are the indie shop owner, not the consumer.
As a shop owner, you buy the games from the publisher for $41-43, then you sell them to your customers for $49.99. You get to pocket $6.99 on each sale (about the hourly wage of a Wal-Mart employee). Wal-Mart gets the same game for (just guessing here, somebody please correct me if you know the real number) $35. They can then sell the game for $49.97 and pocket $14.97 on each sale.
The point is Wal-Mart can sell the same item you can for less money and still make more doing it.
When it really gets fun is when Wal-Mart decides you are taking too much of their market. When that happens, they sell the same unit for $30 taking a $5 loss on each unit. They do this for a few months until your business folds, then they can charge whatever they like.
BTW: The reason why indie shops might refuse to drop the prices of their older games is because they spent $43 on them. They don't want to sell at a loss (although they may have to just to get some money back).
> How about switching the thing off?
>
Well, other than the fact I like running SETI and stuff from home, I plan on using the XBox360 (and PS3?) as an internet chat client. I hope the VoIP software will help me to keep in touch with my gaming friends.:) If it could run SETI while chatting with friends, I'm sold.
Yes, but this time they are going to take hype to a new level. I just got a contract from Bill Microsoft to kill 6 customers as they wait in line to pick up their pre-orders. http://www.maxbarry.com/jennifergovernment/
The best solution I've seen to this so far is to convert the voice to text, send the text to the target computer, and then convert the text back into the voice you want. As far as I know, there are plenty of voice-to-text solutions that could work but no really good text-to-voice...
Good points. I wasn't clear when I said an "all in one" box was the next step. Doing spread-sheets on a PS3 is a silly idea. I meant to say "all in one *entertainment*" box.
Games, movies, music, VVoIP (voice and video chat), PVR, etc. All things you can do on your PC, but they could be done easier on a next-gen console.
Over time, I can see this expanding to cover things like web-browsing (as people switch to HDTVs and websites adjust content) and on-demand news and entertainment.
I don't see this becoming an "all in one" box for everything a computer does now, but it would be great if I could off-load all those things to my console and just use my PC for "real computer stuff" (like Programming and Porn!).
Slashdot Mirror
Here's the gameplay. Start will a god-awful cutscene that is way too long. Then get killed by mosquitoes and frogs a few times. No, I'm not kidding, you have to shoot frogs and mosquitoes that are so poorly textured that you'll mistake them for the background. If you miss a frog, it will touch you and you'll explode (Why? No Idea.) Then you take the CD out of your computer, nail it to a wall, and rock back-and-forth with your eyes closed until they stop bleeding.
Now that its been revived again. They can cancel it for a third time making this year just as rough as last year...
"If the bill were to pass, games put on sale in California would need to be rated and labeled by the state government, not the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)."
Not only do I doubt the ability of the government to judge what is good and bad for our kids, but this is unfair. Movies and music are not rated by the government; why do they think games need to be? And, when Idaho and Alaska pass their own bills, do I have to submit for a rating from them too?
You are right that using your own money is a risk. Hell, if you listen to publishers they'll tell you that 90% of all projects don't make their money back (and 67% of statistics are made up). But, if you're not willing to put your own money where your mouth is, you can't bitch too much when the publisher demands you listen to their "creative input" or they "steal" you IP (Their money == Their project).
I don't see any reason why they wouldn't. They may drop some features (like shields) and change the color so it will stand out more, but it will be Halo like.
Depending on the plot, I don't care if they show his face or not. It is a FPS cliché to keep the face hidden so you can identify more with the main character. If you pay millions of dollars for a famous actor however, you are going to want to show his face.
Does anybody have some links?
Surely someone will spot all the best bits and make a song/movie/book/website to end all songs/movies/books/websites?
Begin bashing Microsoft's business practices....now.
"We shouldn't ban all violent media. Rather, I think we should hit kids with baseball bats."
Look at, the production cost of, GTA3: SA with, the production cost, of tetris.
Wow! I sound, like, Capt. Kirk!
I love my PC games, still the best way to play RTS, FPS, simulations, and funkie titles that will never make it to a console. But, when I just want to "tray-and-play" a game with some friends, it is hard to beat a console.
Okay, who will be the first to quote Niemoller's Poem in this thread?
The problem with laser-tag is that few people have taken it beyond the "kid" image. I'd love to see something like airsoft, but with laser-tag equipment.
Uh...law enforcement...poke your eye out?
Not a big lose, I already own Lumines! ;)
I've had friends who ran a small little shop selling...well, lets just say smoking supplies. ;) They didn't move a lot of products, maybe a dozen or so things a day, but their mark-up was unreal (100-400%)! They managed to do just fine (and, no, they didn't sell anything on the side ;)).
As a shop owner, you buy the games from the publisher for $41-43, then you sell them to your customers for $49.99. You get to pocket $6.99 on each sale (about the hourly wage of a Wal-Mart employee). Wal-Mart gets the same game for (just guessing here, somebody please correct me if you know the real number) $35. They can then sell the game for $49.97 and pocket $14.97 on each sale.
The point is Wal-Mart can sell the same item you can for less money and still make more doing it.
When it really gets fun is when Wal-Mart decides you are taking too much of their market. When that happens, they sell the same unit for $30 taking a $5 loss on each unit. They do this for a few months until your business folds, then they can charge whatever they like.
BTW: The reason why indie shops might refuse to drop the prices of their older games is because they spent $43 on them. They don't want to sell at a loss (although they may have to just to get some money back).
> How about switching the thing off? :) If it could run SETI while chatting with friends, I'm sold.
>
Well, other than the fact I like running SETI and stuff from home, I plan on using the XBox360 (and PS3?) as an internet chat client. I hope the VoIP software will help me to keep in touch with my gaming friends.
The parent post is on target. Microsoft is planning on using the XBox360 as a beachhead into people's livingrooms.
Yes, but this time they are going to take hype to a new level. I just got a contract from Bill Microsoft to kill 6 customers as they wait in line to pick up their pre-orders.
http://www.maxbarry.com/jennifergovernment/
The best solution I've seen to this so far is to convert the voice to text, send the text to the target computer, and then convert the text back into the voice you want. As far as I know, there are plenty of voice-to-text solutions that could work but no really good text-to-voice...
Hey, "schlongs-and-rulers" is fanboy behavior, not all Mac types fall into this class (they just appear to be more prone to get the disease). ;)
Games, movies, music, VVoIP (voice and video chat), PVR, etc. All things you can do on your PC, but they could be done easier on a next-gen console.
Over time, I can see this expanding to cover things like web-browsing (as people switch to HDTVs and websites adjust content) and on-demand news and entertainment.
I don't see this becoming an "all in one" box for everything a computer does now, but it would be great if I could off-load all those things to my console and just use my PC for "real computer stuff" (like Programming and Porn!).